TUNABLE VEHICLE STRUCTURAL MEMBERS AND METHODS FOR SELECTIVELY CHANGING THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES THERETO

摘要

Tunable structural member for a vehicle generally comprises an active material adapted to selectively undergo a change in at least one attribute in response to an activation signla. The change in the at least one attribute results in a chang in the mechanical properties of the tunable structural member. Active materials generally include shape memory alloys, shape memory polymers, magnetorheological fluids and elastomers, piezoelectrics, electroactive polymers, and the like.